Carton with automatic cover locking means



Nov. 6, 1951 w. c. GEORGE 2,574,384

CARTON WITH AUTOMATIC COVER LOCKING MEANS Filed Nov. 1, 1948 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTORI Wad; CI Jpyn- Chm/ 0007? HIS ATTORNEY Nov. 6,1951 w. c. GEORGE CARTON WITH AUTOMATIC COVER LOCKING MEANS 2SHEETSSHEET 2 7FIG. 3.

Filed NOV. 1, 1948 FIGQ4.

INVENTORZ fi/mdw, @a VMM,

HIS AT TORNEYS.

I 'i atcnted Nov. 6, 1951 CARTON WITHAUTOMATIC COVER LOCKING MEAN SWalter 0. George, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Gaylord ContainerCorporation, St. Louis. Mo., a

corporation of Maryland Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57.807

' Claims. (01. zza-m This invention relates principally to cartons ofthe kind having slip or hinged covers. It has for its principal objectsto provide readily releasable means for automatically locking the coverof the carton in closed position, to provide for quickly and firmlysecuring the locking elements to the body and cover of the carton, toprovide for automatically locking the cover in different closedpositions, to utilize the locking elements of the cover and/or body forsecuring a folded flap thereof, and to provide'for simplicity andcheapness of construction of the locking elements.

The invention consists in a carton having a cover locking meanscomprising two locking elements secured one to the body of the cartonand the other to the cover thereof for automatic interlocking engagementin the closed position of the cover and for quick manual disengagementin such position. It also consists in providing the locking elementswith means for firmly securing them to the body and cover, respectively.It also consists in adapting the locking elements for locking the coverin different closed positions. It also consists in utilizing the lockingelement of the body or cover as a securing means for a folded-over flapportion thereof. The invention also consists in the parts andcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like partswherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carton provided with a cover lockingdevice embodying my invention, the cover being shown detached from thebody of the carton,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 in Fig-3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2,the cover being shown in fully telescoped position,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the cover being shown in partiallytelescoped position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking at one side of the locking member,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view looking at the opposite side of saidlocking member,

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 3. showing a modified form of coverlocking device; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the locking member carried by the covershown in Fig. 7.

In the accompanying drawing. my invention is shown embodied in a cartonof resilient material comprising a body A and a slip cover B therefor.The body A has two opposite side walls I with upper marginal flaps 2that are folded downwardly against the outer side faces of said wallsand secured flatwise thereto by staples 3 or other suitable fasteningmeans. The slip cover B comprises a top panel I with two dependingopposite side flanges 5 that overhang the opposite side walls I of thebody A in spaced relation thereto and have lower marginal flaps 6 thatare folded upwardly flatwise against the inner faces of said coverflanges and are held in place by lugs I that project upwardly from theupper edges of said flaps and fit in vertical openings 8 providedtherefor in the top panel 4 of said cover. In the fully closed positionof the slip cover B, the top panel 4 thereof seats on the top edges ofthe side walls I of the body B and the depending side flanges i of saidcover extend downwardly outside said walls to about the level of thelower edges of the downturned upper marginal flaps 2 thereof.

The carton is provided between at least one side wall I and the coverflange 5 associated therewith with means for automatically locking thecover B to the body A in fully telescoped position or in any one of aplurality of partially telescoped positions. This cover locking meanspreferably comprises two counterpart locking members C of molded plasticor other relatively rigid and durable material secured one to thedepending cover flange 5 and the other to the body side wall Ioverlapped thereby. Each of the locking members C comprises a flatrectangular platelike base portion 9 with outstanding transverse flangesIII projecting from one face thereof substantially at right anglesthereto. The drive flanges II are preferably located at the ends of thebody portion 8 and extend from side to side thereof and are thickenedout on opposite sides.

at their outer side margins to form ribs II and rearwardly facing squareshoulders I! on opposite sides of said flanges at the rear edges of saidribs. As shown in the drawings, the thick outer marginalribs II of theflanges III extend from end to end thereof and are tapered from theshoulders I2 to their outer edges after the manner of a wedge.

Projecting from the opposite face of the platelike base portion 8 ofeach locking member 0 is a series or row of equally spaced teeth or ribsI3 that extend transversely of said base portion from side edge to sideedge thereof with one tooth 3 their outer edges where they are rounded,as at It. throughout their length.

One of the two locking members C is mounted on the outer face of each ofthe side walls i of the body A near the upper edge of said wall midwayof the length thereof with the teeth is disposed one aboveanother andinclining downwardly and outwardly. relative .to said wall. The otherlock-' ing member C of the two part fastener is mounted on the innerface of the depending cover flangemidway of the length and depth thereofand is turned end for end relative to the locking member on the body Aso that the teeth I: of said other member incline inwardly and upwardly.The teeth ofthe two-locking members are disposed in vertical alinementwhen the cover is applied and the taper of the teeth is such that thetop and bottom faces of each member slope in conformity with the bottomand top faces, respectively, of the other -'-'member.

The locking member or the body A is secured thereto by driving theflanges it through the downturned upper marginal flap 2 of the side wallI of said body until the wedge shaped marginal rib I i of said flangepasses entirely through said flap and imbeds itself in said wall, the.shoulders snap behind said flap, thereby preventing" extraction of saidflanges and firmly securing said locking member to said body. The otherlockingmernber C is firmly secured in a similar manner to the upturnedlower marginal flap I of the depending flange 5 of the cover B In themodifled construction shown in Figs; 7 and -8, the side wall I of thebody A of the carton has its upper marginal flap I turned down flatwiseagainst the inner face of said wall and one of the locking members C ismounted on said wall in the position hereinbefore described with itsanchor flanges ll extending through both the walls and flap so as torigidly secure said member to said wall and also hold said flap in.place. In this modifled construction, the locking lugs I on theupturned lower marginal flap I of the depending cover flange 5 aredispensed with and the anchor flanges it of the locking member C mountedon said wall extend through said wall and flap to hold the latter inplace. In this construction the locking member C is provided with onetooth it only.

"By the arrangement described. the slip cover may be quickly and easilylocked in position on the body of the carton by telescoping said coverdownwardly over said body far enough to cause the inwardly and upwardlyinclined teeth-of the lockingmembers carried by the cover flanges toride over the downwardly and outwardly inclined teeth of the locking.members mounted on the. side walls of the body. and snap into. position.beneath said last mentionedteeth, thereby preventing disengagement ofthe cover by a straight upward pull or lift thereon. During the downwardmovement of the cover, the flexibility of the flanges thereof permitssaid flanges tospring outwardly far enough to enable the teeth of "thelocking member carried by the cover to ride'over and snap beneath theteeth of the locking member mounted on the side wall of the body. Whenit is desired to removethe cover, the flanges thereof are pulledoutwardly far enoughfrom the walls'of the body to disengage the teeth ofthe locking member carried by the cover from the teeth to the lockingmember mounted on the body, thereby permitting the cover to be liftedoil the'body. During the closing movement of the eover the: teeth of thelocking member thereber mounted on the body, depending upon the amountof overlapfbetweenthe cover flanges and the body walls. This arrangementpermits the cover to be locked in fully or partially telescoped positionand it is especially advantageous with fruit and produce cartons whereinthe contents initially extend above the top of the body but shrinks or.settles. during shipment.

l-The optimum angle of the engaging faces of ..-.the interlocked ribs.13 is 50 degrees and the optimum angle of the opposite faces of saidribs is '65 degrees. These angles insure easy sliding movement of theribs one over another and permit the locking members to be readilydisengaged by. pressing the wall of the body inwardlyorby pulling therim of the cover outwardly; and these anglesalso provide a toe-in effectof the engaged cover and body ribs which has a tendency to cause theengaged ribs to become more fully engaged regardless of the verticalload on the cover.' However. satisfactory performance may be ob tainedwith angles varying considerably from the' optimum; the preferred rangesof angles being between 40 and 60 degrees for the engaged sides oftheinterlocked ribs and between 55 and '75 deg'rees for the opposite sidesthereof.

What I claim is: I

1.. A carton of resilient material comprising. a body having a side walland a cover having. a. depending flange adapted to overhang said wall inspaced relation thereto, and a locking device for said cover comprisinga locking member mounted on the outer face of said wall, and having arigid rib inclining downwardly and outwardly therefrom and a lockingmember L mounted on the inner face of the depending cover flange andhaving a rigid rib inclininginwardly and upwardly therefromvandfladapted during theclosing. movement of said cover to slidedownwardly and outwardly over said. flrst. mentioned rib and snapbeneath the latter and to be disengaged therefrom by an outward pull onsaid depending cover flange, said locking members having a flangeprojecting therefrom, that has a thickened wedge shaped out marginal ribadapted to be driven through said body wall. or cover-flange and seatagainst the inner face' thereof .to thereby secure the locking memberthereto.

2. A carton' of resilient material comprising; a body having a side walland a cover having a depending flange adapted to overhang saidwall inspaced relation thereto, anda locking device for said cover comprising alocking mem-; ber mounted on the outer face of said wall and havingaplurality of vertically spaced rigid ribs inclining downwardly andoutwardly therefrom and a locking member mounted on the inner face ofthe depending cover flange and having a single rigid rib inclininginwardly and upwardly therefrom and adapted during the closing movementof said cover to slide downwardly and outwardly over any one of saidflrst mentioned ribs and snap beneath the latter and to be disengagedtherefrom by anoutward pull on said depending cover flange. said lockingmembers having a flange projecting therefrom that has a'thickened' wedgeshaped outer marginal rib "adapted to be driventhrough said-body wall..or. cover flange and seat against the inner face thereof to therebysecure the locking member thereto.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the outer edges of saidribs are rounded and said ribs taper in thickness from their baseportions to their rounded outer edges and the top and bottom faces ofsaidsingle rib are disposed at angles corresponding to the bottom andtop faces, respectively, of said plurality of ribs.

4. A carton of resilient material comprising a body having a folded'sidewall and a cover having a folded depending flange adapted to overhangsaid wall in spaced relation thereto and a locking device for said covercomprising a locking member mounted on the outer face of said wall andhaving a rigid rib inclining downwardly and outwardly therefrom and alocking member mounted on the inner face of the depending cover flangeand having a rigid rib inclining inwardly and upwardly therefrom andadapted during the closing movement of said cover to slide downwardlyand outwardly over said first mentioned rib and snapped beneath thelatter and to be disengaged from said first mentioned rib by an outwardpull on said depending cover flange, each of said locking members havinga flange projecting therefrom that has a thickened wedge shaped outermarginal rib adapted to'be driven entirely through said folded wall orcover flange to hold the folds thereof together and the locking memberin place.

5. A carton of resilient material comprising a body having a side walland a cover having a depending flange adapted to overhang. said wall inspaced relation thereto, and a locking device for said cover comprisinga locking member mounted on the outer face of said wall and having arigid rib inclining downwardly and outwardly therefrom and a lockingmember moimted on the inner face of the depending cover flange andhaving a rigid rib inclining inwardly and upwardly therefrom and adaptedduring'the closthe depending cover flange and having a single rigid ribinclining inwardly and upwardly therefrom and adapted during the closingmovement of said cover to slide downwardly and outwardly over any one ofsaid first mentioned ribs and snap beneath the latter and'to bedisengaged therefrom by an outward pull on said depending cover flange,each of said locking members having a flange projecting therefrom thathas a wedge shaped outer marginal portion adapted to be driven into saidbody wall or cover flange to thereby secure the locking member thereto.

7. A carton of resilient material comprising a body having a side walland a cover having 9. depending flange adapted to overhang saidwall inspaced relation thereto, and a locking device for said cover comprisingtwo counterpart locking ing movement of said cover to slide downwardlyand outwardly over said first mentioned rib and snap beneath the latterand to be disengaged therefrom by an outward pull on said dependingcover flange, each of said locking members having a flange projectingtherefrom that has a wedge shaped outer marginal portion adapted to bedriven into said body wall or cover flange to secure the locking memberthereto.

6. A carton of resilient material comprising a body having a side walland a cover having a depending flange adapted to overhang said well inspaced relation thereto, and a locking device for said cover comprisinga locking member mounted on the outer face of said wall and having aplurality of vertical spaced rigid ribs inclining downwardly andoutwardly therefrom and a locking member mounted on the inner face ofmembers each having a series of spaced outstanding teeth on one facethereof all slanting in the same direction, one of said locking membersbeing mounted on the outer face of said wall with its teeth incliningdownwardly and outwardly therefrom and the other of said locking membersbeing mounted on the inner face of the depending cover flange with itsteeth inclining inwardly and upwardly therefrom and adapted during theclosing movement of said cover to slide downwardly and outwardly overand snap beneath the teeth of said flrst mentioned locking member and tobe disengaged therefrom by an outward pull on said depending coverflange, each of said locking members having a flange projectingtherefrom that has a thickened wedge shaped outer marginal web adaptedto be driven through said body wall or cover flange and seat against theinner face thereof to thereby secure the locking member thereto.

8. The combinationset forth in claim 7 wherein the outer edges of theteeth of each of said locking members are rounded and said ribs taper inthickness from their base portions to their rounded outer edges and thetop and bottom faces of the downwardly inclined teeth are disposed atangles corresponding to the bottom and top faces, respectively, of theupwardly inclined teeth.

WALTER C. GEORGE.

nEEEnENcEs crrEn The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 281,268 Haskell July 17, 18831,015,455 Neesham Jan. 23, 1912 1,043,690 Gould Nov. 5, 1912 1,498,957Eichhom -1 June 24, 1924 2,226,215 I Borah Dec. 24, 1940 2,806,973Mysels Dec. 29, 1942

